Sorting device



Feb. 17,1942.V

H. D. RALsToN soRTING `DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 193s 4 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 17, 1942. H. D. RALsToN 2,273,662

SORTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, '1958 44 sheets-sheet 2 Hur Bv l m hw i fg. /Y uw W4 1 ,K., E. .n 1r c ai u Feb. 17, 1942..` H. D. RQALSTON I 2,273,662

soi'rING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1958 Feb. l17, 1942. H. D. RALSTQN 2,213,662

S'ORTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 17, 1942 Hurley D. Ralston, Oak Park, Ill., assigner to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, lill., a. corporation of New York Application December 5, 1938, Serial No. 243,950

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements insorting devices of the type having an elongatedseries of overlapping flaps carried by a movable car- .i riage and adapted 'for use in sorting and classifying correspondence,- bills and the like' preparatoryto permanentling. v,

vAprincipal object ofthe invention is to providel an improved sorting device of this type Which is `oi strong, simple andlight Weight construction and large .capacity and in vvhich the sorting carriage isguidedfor reciprocable longitudinal movement tofbring the various portions ofthe series of Ysorting flaps within convenient arms reach of the user in a lnovel manner Awithout the use of a track as has been customary in prior practice.

Another object ofthe .invention is to provide a sorting device of this kind having a carriage controlled for reciprocation in a given path by novel `means lying Vin such path, and associated With the under portion of the4 carriage independ-v ently of the sides thereof. Inthis connection the use of a vliexibl'e guiding belt has been found advantageous in practice.

l 4 1 sun another object-is to pmi/idea Scrungdevice having a belt-.guided` movable vcarriage in which the `.guidingbelt serves not only as the means for ycontrolling the locationv of Ythe oar-l riage, but also serves as braking means for haltlng.V the carriage at the extreme limits of propulsion. l A

A further object ofthe inventionis .toprovide a sorting device -of ,the ,foregoing general character which is equipped for sound` deadening to i avoid the-clatter of moving parts vin use.

i vAn additional Objectis to provide a sorting devicein which the movable carriage lsupports a portable, sectionalized sorting structure providing in the `aggregate a relatively long series of sorting naps-and enabling the removal from the carriage of predetermined sections of the series of flaps whereby to facilitate transportation and handling of `'saidsections when loaded. i

` A `still, further object of the invention is 'to provide 'an improved sorting frame structure for a sorting ydevice of this character'in which the Y n -jOther objects and advantages will become apparent in the 'following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure lis a perspective view of aiscrting de'- vice embodying the invention, looking at the device from the front end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the sorting device taken substantially along line 2 2 of Fig. l. n f

Fig. 3 'is an enlarged fragmental perspective view of a sorting iiap used in the device.

Fig.r Liis a fragmental, longitudinal vertical sectional vievv through the sorting device, with one of the pairof sortingvframes omitted.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan vieW of the device.

Fig. 6 is a top plan vievvoi a modied form of sorting frame. I'

Fig. 7 is a rear end elevational view of the modified sorting frame.

Fig.` 8 is a vertical sectional detail View taken substantially along line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig.l 9 is an elevational vieW of one face of one of the relatively rigid plates or flaps Which are located at the ends of the sorting frames.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental top plan View of a modied form of the device. y

Fig. `11 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the last named modification taken substan-v tially along line I I-I I offFig 10.

While the invention is susceptibleof various modiiications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and` will herein'dew scribe in detail, the preferred'embodiments, 4but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specic forms disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling Within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. l'

A sorting device of the type With Which this invention is concerned is used in sorting andclassifying correspondence, bills, orders, and other documentary material preliminary to placing such material in permanent classied files. Where the filing system is of extensive range, the material to be sorted Willfall into a large number yof subdivisions individually identied by separate sorting flaps disposed close together in a longitudinal series providing pockets therebetween to receive the sorted material. The series of flaps may, however, be of such length that the user Will not be able to reach all points of the series within convenient arms length. Therefore, the series of aps is mounted upon a carriage adapted to be propelled endwise to bring any selected flaps of the series into convenient position for theoperator. For additional convenience in use, the sorting flaps are carried by supporting structure such as appropriate frames which are removably mounted upon the movable carriage so that after the sorting operation the loaded frames can be carried to the le where the sorted material can be removed from between the flaps and permanently iiled away.

As shown by way of example in the drawings, a sorting device embodying the invention may include, generally, an elongated carriage I5 (Fig. 1) supporting a longitudinal series of overlapping, pivoted sorting aps I6 and mounted upon a base or table I1 for endwise movement in opposite directions to bring any of the iiaps into the convenient working range of the'user.

In the preferred form, the construction of the carriage I5 (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5) is of as light weight as possible commensurate with the necessary strength to adequately withstand normal usage. To this end, the carriage may comprise a pair of elongated side bars I8 and I9 connected together infspaced parallel relation by means of a series of transverse connecting bars 29. The connecting bars are herein shown as of substantially U-shape and four in-number secured in parallel relation at predetermined longitudinal points to the opposing faces of the side bars by means such as bolts or screws 2|. To facilitate propulsion of the carriage I5, antifriction rollers 22 are provided which are mounted at the respective opposite ends of the side bars I8 and I9.

Herein the side bars I8 and I9 of the carriage are preferably of a light weight, substantially sound deadening construction. Accordingly, these side bars may each be constructed of a pair of fiat sheet metal plates 23 connected together in spaced parallel relationY on opposite sides of a body 24 formed of a sound-deadening material such as wood. Each bar assembly is connected together in any suitable manner such as by means of the screws 2l and additional bolts or screws 25. The plates 23 extend beyond the opposite ends of the body 24 to receive the rollers 22 which are journaled therebetween on parallel axles 21. Thus, the carriage I5 can be easily propelled over the base I'I withva minimum of eifort, and noise possibly arising from movement or clatter of the rollers 22 and other moving parts will be dampened by the sound-deadening body-24,

' According to the present invention the sorting aps I6 are mounted in a sectionalized series upon Aa plurality of similar carrying or sorting traysfor frames 28 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which are adapted to be removably supported by the carriage I5. These sorting frames 28 may be identically constructed, and a description of one will therefore suffice for the others. Each of the sorting frames 28 preferably includes a pair of elongated side bars 29 and 30 of substantially L- shaped cross section relatively located' to provide seats to receive the carriage side bars I and I9` respectively. Adjacent to their front and rear extremities, the sorting frame bars 29 and 39 are connected together by means such as respective pairs of spaced parallel rods 3! and 32.

The front connecting rods 3i are so relatively located that one of them will serve as a pivot for the sleeve-like lower end of a relatively rigid metallic end flap or plate 35. The remaining rod 3I is adapted to be engaged by an angular leg 36 at the lower end of the flap plate 35 wherebyto limit forward movement of the plate to a predetermined forwardly slanting position. In practice, an angle of about 45 has .been found advantageous. Rearward swinging movement of the ap plate 35 is limited to a substantially vertical position by engagement of the lower end portion of the plate withan additional front connecting `bar 31 on the frame.

At the rear end of the sorting frame 28, the connecting rods 32 are so relatively located that one of them will serve as the pivot for the lower end of a rear iiap plate 39 which is tubularly curled over as at 39 (Fig. 8) to provide a hinge to receive the pivot rod 32. The remaining connecting rod 32 serves as a stop to limit rearward swinging movement of the nap plate 38.

The iiap plates 35 and 38 may serve as handles to be conveniently grasped manually for lifting and transporting the sorting frames 23. To aid in gripping the iiap plates manually they may be provided with suitable finger grip means such as notchesv 4Q in their opposite longitudinal edges.

The sorting aps I6 are preferably of an improved Aconstruction and are removably mounted upon the sorting frame 28 in a novel manner. To this end each of the sorting flaps I6 may comprise a body of suitable exible material such as pressboard having a visible card holder 4I projecting from the upper end thereof (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). This card holder may comprise a sheet metal plate doubled over to provide spaced parallel legs engaging the opposite sides of the top margin of the sorting iiap body and suitably connected thereto permanently as by means of eyelet rivets 42, two such rivets having been found suitable in practice. Alined window openings 43 are provided in both legs of the card holder 4I so that the opposite faces oan index card 44 inserted between the legs may be viewed freely. To facilitate insertion and removal of the index card 44, one of the legs of the holder may be cut away at opposite sides of the holder as at v45 and the opposite leg of the holder may be provided with means for holding the card in place such as a pair of nodes 41 projecting into the cutouts 45. At its lower end, the sorting flap I6 is provided with a hinge herein formed of a sheet metal plate 48 and secured to the sorting flap body by means of one or more eye rivets 49. A margin of the hinge plate projectsbeyond the lower edge of the sorting iiap body and is curled over to provide a sleeve 50 which is adapted to receive one of a series of spaced parallel pintles 5I (Fig. 2) carried by the sorting frame 23.

The pintles 5I are anchored at one end to one of the sorting frame side bars, herein the bar 30, and project across the intervening space between said bars to lie at their opposite or free end portions upon the upper face of the bar 29. Preferably, the pintles are formed of flexible rod material such as piano wire stock. Therefore, when the hinge sleeve 50 of a sorting Iiap is to be inserted upon the selected pintle, the free end of the latter will flex upwardly to permit passage of the portion of the wall of the sleeve which is interposed between the pintle and the bar 29. After the sleeve has been fully inserted, the free end portion of the pintle will snap down against the face of the bar 29. Thereafter accidental displacement of the sorting flap by axial movement along the pintle is avoided because the adjacent end of the sleeve 50 will be stopped by engagement with the bar 29. To remove the sorting ap it will only be necessary to flex the pintle so that the hinge sleeve 50 will clear the bar 29 and then slide the sleeve axially off of the pintle.

. In order to facilitate guidance of the hinge sleeve 50 onto the selected pintle 5I, the upper face of the bar 29 may be provided with suitable guiding means such as a series of spaced studs 52 which, in effect, provide guide grooves therebetween within which the free end portions of the pintles are received. As will be apparent, the sorting flaps I6 may be inserted upon the pintles with either face forward due to the similar size of the sight openings 43 in the card holders whereby either side of the card may be seen with equal facility.

Since the sorting aps I6 are preferably of a standard length, it will be apparent that they will overlap one another in stepped relation when the series of flaps is swung to rest against the tilted front end ap plate 35, thereby exposing all of the index cards 44 in the holders 4I. Items of sorted material are placed in front of or behind selected ones of the sorting flaps I6 by swinging adjacent aps apart to open the pocket therebetween. Upon releasing theselected flaps after insertion of a sorted item the weight of the superimposed flaps presses them together and clamps 'the sorted item in place. In this connection it may be noted that the pivoted rear end flap plate 38 lies freely upon the rear sorting flap I6 and by its greater weight aids in the item-clamping action of the aps. The fixed 45 angle of the front end flap plate 35 of the rear sorting frame 28 will hold the sorting flaps I6 of thek rear sorting frame from bearing against the flaps of the foremost sorting frame (Fig. l). The top surfaces of the sorting frame side bars 29 and 30 serve as rests for the edges of items inserted into the pockets between the flaps, the width of the support thus provided being preferably as narrow as practicable to conserve space and weight, as for example about three and one-half inches.

In order to permit the sorting frames 28 to be removed easily for transportation to the permanent files when loaded, means is employed which will effectively hold the yframes in place end to end upon the carriage I5 but will quickly release either frame when the latter is lifted away. For this vpurpose each of the side bars I8 and I9 of the carriage I5 has secured at the center of its inner face an upwardly projecting frame-engaging member 53, of T-shape in the part thereof which extends above the upper face of the associated side bar. These T-members 53 are adapted to engage over the adjacent ends ofthe side bars 26 and 30 of the sorting frames when the latter are moved into place by a longitudinal sliding motion. When fully in position relative to the T-members 53, the adjacent'ends of the sorting frames 28 are held against upward displacement from the carriage I5. As a result,`

of the sorting frame side bars, herein the bar 26,. appropriately located pins 53h projecting rigidly inwardly from the carriage side bar I8. By having the notches 53EL and the pins 53b on but one side of the sorting frames 28, they will serve to assure proper placement of the sorting frames because if the notches do not register with the pins, the latter will hold the sorting frame against properly seating upon the carriage I5. Thus, the two sorting frames will be held against relative longitudinal displacement when pressure is applied thereagainst as in propelling the carriage forwardly or rearwardly or in manipulating the sorting flaps. However, either sorting frame can be easily and quickly lifted from the carriage.

As shown, the base or table II may be cons-tructed as a portable, elongated platform which may be carried from place to place. Wood or other suitable materials may be used to constructv the body of the base I'I and if desired a sounddeadening topping 54 of linoleum or the like may beplaced upon the base to assist in dampening noise. Suitable legs 55 may be provided for the base I'I to support the same at spaced points in raised relation to a supporting surface. These legs may be rubber tipped for gripping the undersurface frictionally to avoid undesirable shifting of the device.

Herein the carriage I5 is guided in a novel manner for movement longitudinally of the base I 'I by means which lies under the carriage and is associated therewith independently of the side bars I8 and I9 and the rollers 22. An endless guiding belt 56 may be provided for this purpose, running over a pair of' spaced pulleys 5I respectively located adjacent to the opposite ends of the base I I, within suitable apertures 58 in the base and passing both above and below the base. This belt may be made of any suitable material butl is preferably formed of steel being highly flexible for movement perpendicular to its major plane but substantially non-yielding, though possibly slightly resilient, in such plane. Desirably, spaced hangers 59 depending from the lower face of the base I'I support the lower span of the belt 56 from engaging the surface upon which the device is standing.

The span of the guiding belt 56 is substantially greater than .the length of the carriage I5 and means is provided for connecting the ends of the belt to the carriage below the sorting frames 28. Accordingly, the ends of the belt are provided with fixed attachment means such as clamps 6U which are detachably connected together by means such as a lockable turnbuckle connecter 6I.' By means of the turnbuckle 6I the belt 56 can be adjustably tensioned for optimum efciency. In order to hold the belt to run with the carriage, the clamps 60 are provided with stops 62 projecting endwise therefrom and adapted to engage with the screws 25 on the side bars I8 and I9 of the carriage, vsuch screws beingspaced apart suiiiciently to permit some longitudinal play between the carriage and the belt and thus relieve possible operating strains that may arise in use.

Strain upon the carriage I5 and the guiding belt 56 is further relieved by the novel manner of threading the belt into engagement with the carriage. Accordingly, the U-sh-aped connecting bars 26 of the carriage I5 are utilized to engage the guiding belt 56 in such a manner that the belt will guide the carriage 28 for rectilinear movement but will permit slight lateral yielding of the carriage from said path due to the flexibility and slight twisting or buckling play of the belt when sufficient lateral pressure is applied However, the resiliency of the tensioned belt which tends at all times to resist twisting and to return the belt to its normal plane will draw the carriage back into its rectilinear path. As may be I seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the guiding belt 56 is threaded under the endmost connecting bars 2) and over the innermost connecting bars. Moreover, the outer connecting bars are located with their webs downwardly to hold the belt adjacent to the top of the base I1 while the inner connecting bars 2i) are located with their webs upwardly to hold the portion of the belt threaded thereover sufficiently above the top of the base l1 to clear the connecting clamps Gil and turnbuckle 6 I. Upwardly projecting bosses 63 on the inner connecting bars 29 serve to define ways for receiving the guiding belt 56 and prevent undesirable side play of the carriage relative to the belt. As a result ofk this arrangement, the carriage is guided for easy rectilinear longitudinal movement over the flat base I1 practically noiselessly and with substantially less liability to frictional restraint than where, as in prior devices, the carriage runs on a track, the relatively non-yieldability of the guide belt 56 transversely in its plane assuring that the carriage will be held to its rectilinear course.

An advantage of the threaded arrangement of the guiding belt 56 resides in the braking effect of the belt acting through the innermost connecting bars 20 over which it passes. When the carriage has been moved to its forwardmost position as seen in Fig. 4, the belt, acting between the forward pullei7 51 and the adjacent inner connecting bar 2Q, will create a retarding prese sure which will stop forward propulsion of the carriage without jarring or undesirable backlash. The same action takes place between the guiding belt and the rearward one of the inner connecting bars 20 and the rear pulley 51 when the carriage is propelled rearwardly. In practice it has been found that this retarding or braking effect operates effectively even though the carriage may be propelled with unnecessary vigor.

For sorting many types of papers, the narrow width of sorting frames 28 is ample, the aggregate weight of the flaps lying upon one another being generally sufficient to hold the sorted papers in place in spite of the narrow base, provided by the sorting frame side bars 29 and 30. In' some instances it may be desirable, however, to have a wider base for the sorted papers, and for this purpose means such as detachable horizontal plates or wings 65 (Figs. 6 and '7) may be provided for extending the sides of the frames. These wings 65 may be constructed as flat sheet metal plates adapted to be secured interchangeably at either side of the sorting frame by means of screws 61. These screws pass through tongues 68 extending laterally from the attaching edges of the extension wings to straddle the series of upwardly projecting guide bosses 52 when the respective extension wing 65 is secured to the frame side bar 29.

On occasion it may be desired to use one of the sorting frames 28 independently. In such event, because of the shortl length of the sorting frame it will not be necessary to shift it for ready access to any of the sorting flaps I6 thereof. For such use, however, it will be desirable to hold the frame xedly in place; and means may be provided for this purpose such as suction cups 69 (Figs. 7 and 8) which may be threadedly attached to the front end connecting bar 31 and to a supplemental rear end connecting bar 31a on the sorting frame.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. l and l1, the carriage l5 is guided by a xedly attached flexible belt along which the carriage is slibably shiftable. The guiding belt has the opposite ends thereof anchored to a suitable base or table 1l over which the carriage is movable. One end of the guiding belt 10 is engaged by fixed securing means such as a clamp device 12 and the other end is engaged by securing and tension-adjusting means 13. The latter may comprise an anchor plate 14 rigidly secured to the table 1l and a movable plate 15 permanently secured to the end of the guidingbelt 10. Holding the plate 15 down upon the table 1I are screws 11 passing through slots 18 in the beltengaging plate 15 and permitting a limited range of movement of this plate longitudinally of the guiding belt 19. Connecting the two plates 14 and 15 is an adjusting member such as a turnbuckle screw 19 threaded into flanges 80 on the plates and adapted to be locked in adjusted position by means such as nuts 8l. Preferably, the fixed securing means 12 and the adjustable securing means 13 are suitably recessed into the table 1| so as to clear` the carriage I5 which will run substantially therebeyond similarly as is the case with the pulleys for the endless belt 56.

The guiding belt 10 is threaded through the transverse connecting bars 2U of the carriage' l5 similarly as the belt 56 but will slide through these bars as the carriage is propelled in either direction along the belt. The braking eect of the belt 10 will be the same. Preferably, the surfaces of the bars 2G which are engaged by the guiding belt 10 will be rounded off to reduce friction. If desired, of course, the bars 20 can be equipped with antifricticn rollers, or specially supported rollers for engaging the belt can be provided.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides an efficient sorting device of large capacity and simple, strong and light weight construction. An important factor in maintaining the weight at a, minimum resides in the use of the thin flexible steel belt for guiding the sorter carriage instead of the heavier track structures as heretofore employed.

' Moreover, the sectionalized sorting ap structure affords a substantial advantage in handling the flaps when loaded and also permits the aps to be used as smaller units. In other respects also, the present invention improves upon sorting devices of this character.

I claim as my invention: l

l. A sorting device of the character described comprising, in combination, a base structure, an elongated carriage movably carried by said base structure and having a longitudinal series of overlapping sorting flaps swingable about parallel axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of said carriage, rollers at the sides of said carriage for anti-friction engagement of said base, said series of sorting aps being of a length greater than normal arms reach, and means cooperating with said carriage inwardly spaced from and independently of said rollers below said flaps for guiding movement of said carriage longitudinally when said carriage is propelled over said base to bring any selected sorting flaps of the series within convenient arms reach of the user.

2. Sorting apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a base structure, a carriage movable over said base structure, a xedly anchored guiding belt for said carriage, and means on said carriage for slidably engaging said guiding belt to enable guided movement of thecarriage therealong.

3. A sorting device of the character described agissez comprising, in combination, a movable carriage, a pair of elongated trays each having a series of sorting elements cooperating to provide pockets therebetween for receiving sorted material, said trays being adapted to be supported by said carriage in end-to-end relation to combine the individual series of sorting elements thereof into a continuous series, and means on said carriage for removably engaging said trays to hold the latter at least in part against upward displacement.

4. A sorting device of the character described comprising, in combination, a supporting struc- 5. A sorting device of the character described' comprising, in combination, a carriage including a frame having a pair of spaced parallel side bars, and means for connecting said bars rigidly together, said bars each comprising spaced metallic face plates and sound deadening means between said face plates. Y l

6. A sorting device of the characterdescribed comprising, in combination, a sorting frame having'a pair of spaced parallel side members, mechanism on said frame .providing sorting pockets and having means on the upper face of one of said members spaced inwardly from each end of the latter yand maintaining a predetermined spaced relationship of the sorting pockets, and an extension wing plate having attachment ears stradclling said means and secured to said one member. f

7. A sorting device of the character described comprising, in combination, a sorting tray including an alined series of pintles anchored at association with said belt, said belt being freely flexible perpendicular to its major plane but substantially resistant to flexure within such plane so that it may move in a direction toward or away from said supporting surface in the rectilinear travel of said carriage but will substantially prevent lateral displacement of said carriage from said path. f

9. In combination with a movable carriage and a plane base supporting said carriage for travel in a rectilinear path thereover, a guiding belt under said carriage held to a Xed span in face up relation longitudinally in said path and being flexibly movable toward or from said base at intermediate points in said span but substantially immovable laterally, and means on said carriage engagingy said belt both facewise and loosely edgewise for continuous guiding association therewith, the facewise engagement being such as tov hold the carriage against separation fromsaid base and the edgewise engagement 'being such as to retain the carriage substantially in predetermined' longitudinal alinement with the belt.

10. vA sorting device of the character described comprising, in combination, a carriage for supporting a removable sorting tray, a plane base, a belt for Vguiding said carriage in a rectilinear path over said base, said belt lying flatwise between said carriage and said base and Vbeing iiexible facewise but relatively non-yielding edgewise, means on said base connecting said belt to said base and coniining said belt to a predetermined longitudinal span permitting facewise flexure relative to said base within said span but holding the belt substantially against lateral movement relativevto said base, means operatively connecting said carriage to said belt, and means for adjusting the tension of said belt to limit flexure thereof and thereby the possible range of separating movement between said carriage .and said base.

one end and extending in spaced parallel relation toward one side of the tray, a series of sorting flaps including hinges removably engageable with said pintles, said naps providing a plurality of sorting pockets therebetween, means for removably supporting said tray generally horizontally above a base, and means on said supporting means partially overlying said tray for holdingv said tray and said supporting means together in a predetermined assembled relationship.

8. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a base structure including a substantially plane supporting surface, a carriage movably supported upon said surface, means for holding said carriage to a rectilinear path of movement over said surface including as the sole guiding element a belt held to a given longitudinal span relative to said base and with its major transverse plane disposed across the top of said surface, and means providing an operative connection between said belt and said carriage enabling the carriage to be moved freely in said path while maintaining constant guiding 11. A sorting device of the character described comprising, in combination, a low carriage constructed to be readily movable over a iiat base, a sorting trayremovably supported in a horizontal plane by said carriage and having means projecting upwardly therefrom defining a series of sorting pockets, and means located under said sorting 'tray for guiding said carriage in a predetermined path when the latter is moved over the base and having engagement with said carriage for holding the latter against removal from the base.

12. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a carriage including spaced parallel side members, a base over which said carriage is adapted to be moved, a guide belt confined to a predetermined span upon said base, and a plurality of spaced parallel transverse bars extending between said side members,

said guide belt being threaded through said transverse bars whereby to connect said carriage to said base and guide its movements in a predetermined path over the base.

HU'RLEY D. RALSTON. 

